Doomed Legacy: A Rick Cahill Novel

Coyle’s subpar ninth Rick Cahill novel (after 2021’s Last Redemption) finds Cahill struggling to balance the dangers of his San Diego, Calif., PI business with the daily adjustments of a new parent. Further complicating matters, Rick suffers from a debilitating chronic neurological condition he’s kept from his wife, Leah, since his diagnosis sometime before the birth of their 14-month-old daughter. Because of Rick’s erratic behavior, Leah leaves with their child so they will be in a safer environment. Rick is left in their home alone. Trying to focus on work, Rick meets with a business associate, Sara Bhandari, his contact in the human resources department for a defense contractor with whom Rick regularly runs background checks. Sara wants Rick to dig deeper into unusual hiring discrepancies. Rick downplays her instinctual concerns, and is soon filled with regret when Sara is the victim of a murder believed to be committed by a serial rapist. Now motivated, Rick sets out to find the truth behind Sara’s murder, even if it will cost him his family. This melodramatic outing shows some signs of fatigue; established fans may be more forgiving of Coyle’s white knight hero’s shortcomings. Agent: Kimberley Cameron, Kimberley Cameron & Assoc. (Nov.)